Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam works against Memphis Grizzlies forward Xavier Tillman during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. PHOTO BY BRANDON DILL /The Associated Press
The trade bump experienced by the Raptors carried over into the Home of the Blues, where the hometown Memphis Grizzlies were left singing the blues.
Everyone knew the Raptors needed a jolt when they returned home last weekend following a loss to the host Detroit Pistons, a team flirting with NBA futility.
In the first game for the newest Raptors in RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley following their trade from the New York Knicks, each started on New Year’s Day, each having a presence in Toronto’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Quickley began slowly on Wednesday night at FedEx Forum, but he never allowed missed shots to dictate his defensive intensity.
Barrett displayed his overall game as the Raptors won their second in a row 116-111 to tip off a six-game road trip that continues Friday night in Sacramento.
Once they found their bearings, the Raptors were very good and were well-deserving of their victory.
Suddenly, there’s joy and exuberance in how they play, a togetherness not often seen this season and options with Barrett and Quickley learning how to play better with their new teammates.
On Toronto’s first possession to begin the second half, Quickley buried a three-pointer. Following a stop, Quickley scored on a runner as the Raptors increased their lead to 17 points, which would swell to 20 following a Memphis turnover.
Rookie head coach Darko Rajakovic, a one-time assistant with the Grizzlies, is not afraid to mix and match his rotations and several interesting groups were concocted in Memphis.
He’s clearly not reluctant to call a timeout when his team’s defence is compromised. Toronto endured a sloppy stretch of play, allowing the Grizzlies to cut the deficit in half, prompting Rajakovic to call a well-timed timeout.
One of the keys on this night was Toronto’s ability to close out quarters, which they accomplished again in the third by going on a 13-6 run to end the period. Quickley had five three-pointers after three quarters to match a season high he set in the New York Knicks’ season opener against Boston.
With 7:29 remaining, Rajakovic had no other choice but to call a timeout as Memphis made it a 10-point game following an 8-0 run. It would shrink to seven and then six with 4:21 to go. For the first time all night, the Raptors looked disjointed.
